Vehicle approach notification control apparatus for electric motorcycle

Abstract

To provide a vehicle approach notification control apparatus for an electric motorcycle, which can output notification sound for notifying a walker or the like of approach of an electric motorcycle with an appropriate sound volume. The vehicle approach notification control apparatus for an electric motorcycle includes a speaker for generating notification sound equivalent to engine sound of an engine driven motorcycle of a vehicle category that is the same as a vehicle category of the electric motorcycle in response to a motor speed of an electric motor or a vehicle speed. The vehicle approach notification control apparatus includes a pseudo engine sound volume storage device configured to store sound volume data of engine sound with respect to the entire running sound upon running of the engine driven vehicle, and a control unit for controlling the notification sound.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle approach notification control apparatus for an electric motorcycle, comprising:
 a sound generation device configured to generate a notification sound that is equivalent to engine sound of an engine driven motorcycle of a vehicle category that is the same as a vehicle category of the electric motorcycle, in response to a motor speed of an electric motor or a vehicle speed; and 
 a pseudo engine sound volume storage device configured to store sound volume data of engine sound with respect to the entire running sound upon running of the engine driven motorcycle, 
 wherein said sound generation device is controlled based on the sound volume data stored in said pseudo engine sound volume storage device upon low speed running of said electric motorcycle wherein said vehicle approach notification control apparatus further includes a raindrop sensor for detecting a rain amount and an illuminance sensor for detecting brightness; and said vehicle approach notification control apparatus carries out, in the case where a rainfall state is detected by said raindrop sensor, correction for increasing the sound volume of said sound generation means, but carries out, in the case where it is detected by said illuminance sensor that it is nighttime, correction for decreasing the sound volume of said sound generation device. 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle approach notification control apparatus for an electric motorcycle according to  claim 1 , wherein the pseudo engine sound volume data is set so that the sound volume decreases in response to an increase of the vehicle speed and becomes zero when a predetermined vehicle speed is reached. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle approach notification control apparatus for an electric motorcycle according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said electric motorcycle includes a centrifugal clutch provided on a driving route for driving a driving wheel from said electric motor; and 
 said vehicle approach notification control apparatus controls said sound generation device in response to the motor speed in a state in which the vehicle speed is in the proximity of zero before the speed of said electric motor reaches a connection speed of said centrifugal clutch. 
 
     
     
       4. The vehicle approach notification control apparatus for an electric motorcycle according to  claim 1 , wherein the pseudo engine sound volume data is set so as to correspond to engine sound of a maximum total stroke volume of an engine driven vehicle of a vehicle category that is the same as the vehicle category of said electric motorcycle. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle approach notification control apparatus for an electric motorcycle according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said vehicle approach notification control apparatus further includes a control unit for controlling the notification sound; and 
 said control unit is connected to a horn switch provided on a handle cover, which covers a steering handle member, of said electric motorcycle, and causes, if a switching on operation of said horn switch is detected, said sound generation device to generate horn sound. 
 
     
     
       6. The vehicle approach notification control apparatus for an electric motorcycle according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said sound generation device is a speaker provided on the vehicle body rear side of a front cover, which covers a head pipe of a vehicle body frame of said electric motorcycle from the front; and 
 said control unit is disposed in the proximity of said speaker on the vehicle body rear side of said front cover. 
 
     
     
       7. The vehicle approach notification control apparatus for an electric motorcycle according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 said vehicle approach notification control apparatus further includes a notification sound switch for switching operation of said control unit on or off; 
 said notification sound switch is configured integrally with said speaker; and 
 an operation element for operating said notification sound switch so as to be projected and retracted is configured so as to be exposed rearwardly of the vehicle body from a through-hole formed in a leg shield, which covers the vehicle body rear side of said head pipe continuously to said front cover. 
 
     
     
       8. The vehicle approach notification control apparatus for an electric motorcycle according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said vehicle approach notification control apparatus further includes a control unit for controlling the notification sound; and 
 said control unit is disposed on the inner side of said handle cover, which covers said steering handle member of said electric motorcycle, and in the proximity of a right side handle grip attached to one end portion of a handle bar of said steering handle member at a lower portion of said handle bar. 
 
     
     
       9. A vehicle approach notification control apparatus for an electric motorcycle, comprising:
 a sound generation device configured to generate a notification sound of an engine driven motorcycle, in response to a motor speed of an electric motor or a vehicle speed; and 
 a pseudo engine sound volume storage device configured to store sound volume data of engine sound of the engine driven motorcycle, 
 wherein said sound generation device is controlled based on the sound volume data stored in said pseudo engine sound volume storage device wherein said vehicle approach notification control apparatus further includes a raindrop sensor for detecting a rain amount and an illuminance sensor for detecting brightness; and said vehicle approach notification control apparatus carries out, in the case where a rainfall state is detected by said raindrop sensor, correction for increasing the sound volume of said sound generation means, but carries out, in the case where it is detected by said illuminance sensor that it is nighttime, correction for decreasing the sound volume of said sound generation device. 
 
     
     
       10. The vehicle approach notification control apparatus for an electric motorcycle according to  claim 9 , wherein the pseudo engine sound volume data is set so that the sound volume decreases in response to an increase of the vehicle speed and becomes zero when a predetermined vehicle speed is reached. 
     
     
       11. The vehicle approach notification control apparatus for an electric motorcycle according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 said electric motorcycle includes a centrifugal clutch provided on a driving route for driving a driving wheel from said electric motor; and 
 said vehicle approach notification control apparatus controls said sound generation device in response to the motor speed in a state in which the vehicle speed is in the proximity of zero before the speed of said electric motor reaches a connection speed of said centrifugal clutch. 
 
     
     
       12. The vehicle approach notification control apparatus for an electric motorcycle according to  claim 9 , wherein the pseudo engine sound volume data is set so as to correspond to engine sound of a maximum total stroke volume of an engine driven vehicle of a vehicle category that is the same as the vehicle category of said electric motorcycle. 
     
     
       13. The vehicle approach notification control apparatus for an electric motorcycle according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 said vehicle approach notification control apparatus further includes a control unit for controlling the notification sound; and 
 said control unit is connected to a horn switch provided on a handle cover, which covers a steering handle member, of said electric motorcycle, and causes, if a switching on operation of said horn switch is detected, said sound generation device to generate horn sound. 
 
     
     
       14. The vehicle approach notification control apparatus for an electric motorcycle according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 said sound generation device is a speaker provided on the vehicle body rear side of a front cover, which covers a head pipe of a vehicle body frame of said electric motorcycle from the front; and 
 said control unit is disposed in the proximity of said speaker on the vehicle body rear side of said front cover. 
 
     
     
       15. The vehicle approach notification control apparatus for an electric motorcycle according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 said vehicle approach notification control apparatus further includes a notification sound switch for switching operation of said control unit on or off; 
 said notification sound switch is configured integrally with said speaker; and 
 an operation element for operating said notification sound switch so as to be projected and retracted is configured so as to be exposed rearwardly of the vehicle body from a through-hole formed in a leg shield, which covers the vehicle body rear side of said head pipe continuously to said front cover. 
 
     
     
       16. The vehicle approach notification control apparatus for an electric motorcycle according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 said vehicle approach notification control apparatus further includes a control unit for controlling the notification sound; and 
 said control unit is disposed on the inner side of said handle cover, which covers said steering handle member of said electric motorcycle, and in the proximity of a right side handle grip attached to one end portion of a handle bar of said steering handle member at a lower portion of said handle bar.